Looking at the determination in Lucy's eyes, Lock sighed helplessly.
"Your teacher has already reported you to the Central Military Police Corps."
"What?"
Lucy still hadn't quite reacted.
Lock stared into Lucy's eyes, which were filled with surprise, knowing she hadn't yet realized the gravity of the situation.
He spoke seriously: "You've been targeted by the Central Military Police Corps now. If you still insist on your so-called truth, I'm afraid you'll also become a part of that memorial hall."
After a long while, Lucy finally understood the meaning behind Lock's words.
"Why... why would they do this..."
"Because the world inside the walls is very small—so small that a single spark can ignite everyone. So they will stop anything and anyone that might shake their rule."
Lucy trembled all over. She seemed to remember something, reaching out to grab Lock's clothes and saying: "Then were my parents... also because of this reason that..."
Lock remained silent.
Lucy's hands began to shake, her eyes filled with tears, and her lips trembled slightly: "Then how did Mr. Lock... know about this?"
Lock replied calmly: "I am currently in the Central Military Police Corps."
Lucy let go of her hand and took a step back: "Then is Mr. Lock here for me this time?"
Lock smiled slightly: "Do you know how to be afraid now?"
A gentle breeze passed between the two, carrying the rustling sound of leaves.
Lucy then realized that the surroundings were still deserted.
"Stop looking; no one will come here for the time being."
Lock took a step forward, watching the fear deepen on Lucy's face, and said calmly: "I've already requested permission from your principal; no one will come to disturb us."
"Lucy..."
"Lucy!"
"Ah!"
Lock grabbed Lucy's shoulders, startling her. She shook her head and cried, "Don't kill me..."
Was he being a bit too much?
Lock held Lucy's head steady and looked into her eyes, saying seriously: "You won't die yet. Go back to your dormitory and pack your things immediately. I've already arranged a new identity for you in the Karanes District, in the eastern part of Wall Rose."
"Lucy! Leave this place. Stop investigating the secrets of the Titans, and stop thinking about how your parents died."
"Fortunately, it was me you met today. Otherwise, tomorrow you would have become the daughter who committed suicide by jumping into a river because she missed her parents, do you understand!"
"Move to another place and survive for now. I promise you'll have a chance to come back in the future."
"Do you understand?"
Lucy nodded blankly.
Lock followed her to the bottom of the dormitory building. Watching Lucy walk in, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
In his subconscious, someone seemed to be saying something.
[Why are you helping her?]
Why what? I'm not really a lapdog of the Royal Government.
[If you're discovered, won't your undercover plan fail? Why take such a big risk?]
It won't be that easy to get caught. I've thought through every subsequent step.
[Is that so? Then look behind you.]
Hearing footsteps behind him, Lock turned around abruptly.
Kenny Ackerman, dressed in a black trench coat, came up to Lock. A mocking curve played on his lips: "Yo! Noble boy, how's the mission going?"
Lock's heart sank instantly.
He looked at Kenny, somewhat surprised: "Aren't you in a meeting at the Presidential Palace? Why are you here?"
Kenny said in a playful tone: "As the captain, I naturally have to come and check on a new member's first mission."
He looked at the girls' dormitory building behind Lock and reminded him in a low voice: "Classes are in session right now, so there's hardly anyone inside. You can go straight in."
Lock straightened his suit: "Sorry, we nobles still have some level of etiquette and breeding."
Lock wanted to stall for more time, but Kenny wasn't going to give him the chance.
Kenny reached out, grabbed Lock's collar, pulled him close, and said in a low voice: "Kid, when the captain says something, you just do it."
[Detected Host's adrenaline levels rising, System evaluating.]
Lock remained calm on the surface, weighing the gains and losses of his next move.
[Levels have not reached the threshold, System self-activation failed.]
After a moment of silence, he raised his hands and said, "I understand, Captain."
Kenny let go of Lock's collar, pulled a hemp rope out of his coat pocket, and handed it to Lock.
"Use this. Disguise it as a suicide. You can do that, right?"
"Yes."
"Go on then. I'll be waiting right here for your good news, kid."
Lock turned and walked into the dormitory.
Several men in black also appeared behind Kenny.
Kenny stared at the dormitory entrance and ordered, "A few of you go to the back as well. Don't let that kid take her and jump out a window."
"Yes, sir!"
Traute walked over: "Captain, aren't you going in to keep an eye on him?"
"No need." Kenny smiled confidently. "Give this shy young man some space. He'll figure it out on his own."
...Lock walked up the stairs, tightly gripping the hemp rope in his hand.
Damn it, I was careless.
Ackerman really isn't just some simple opponent.
I was still too naive.
Now is clearly not the time for a fallout.
So, I can only... Lock looked at the rope in his hand, his facial expression beginning to distort.
[Can you actually go through with it?]
What of it? It's not like I haven't done it before.
[You've only ever killed evil people.]
Good people, evil people... how can one distinguish them so clearly?
Lock reached the third floor. He had checked Lucy's room number before coming, so he naturally knew how to find her.
Lucy lived in a single room, which was considered special treatment from the school.
Lock arrived at her door. His extraordinary hearing let him know she was inside packing her luggage.
He looked at the doorknob but didn't move for a long time.
[What? So you still can't bring yourself to do it?]
Shut up!
[Time's almost up.]
I know!
I'm just... just...
[Indecisive and overthinking. What turned you into this?]
What did you say?
[Useless. Better let me handle it.]
You?
Wait!
[Detected Host's adrenaline levels rising, System evaluating.]
[Levels reached the threshold, System activating.]
[Host: Lin Youde]
[Age: 17/90]
[Stamina: 35]
[Strength: 25]
[Agility: 20]
[Talent: Martial Arts Prodigy, Ymir's Bloodline]
[Skills: Eight Extremes Fist (6), Form-Intention Fist (4), Great Spear Technique (5), Grand Ultimate Fist (2), Fusang Technique (2), Diting Technique (2)]
[System Assessment beginning, Energy Points being collected.]
[Host, please fight to your heart's content.]
...By the time Lock reacted, he found himself already inside the room.
He was sitting at a desk in the dormitory. On the desk were various research materials about Titans, looking somewhat cluttered.
The hemp rope in Lock's hand was gone, replaced by a mask.
This was a mask Lucy had made herself; it was one of her extracurricular hobbies.
Why did he know this?
Lock turned his head and saw a pair of feet.
They were as white as jade, wearing a pair of white women's canvas shoes.
He looked up and saw the pink dress she had worn the first time he met her.
Then, he saw Lucy's face, which had already lost all color.
Around her neck was the hemp rope Lock had brought.
She was hanging like that from the beam of her own dormitory room.
Lock looked at her silently.
She also looked at Lock silently.
---
A/N: Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded. Please Check It Out. It will really help me out and will keep me motivated to continue.
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